'St. Paul Pioneer Press' Lays Off in Newsroom, Ad Sales

By: E&P Staff The St. Paul Pioneer Press laid off nine newsroom employees and two more in advertising sales and production today, according to a report by the Star Tribune of Minneapolis.

This latest round of layoffs leaves the newspaper with 131 newsroom staffers and 74 in advertising, Michael Bucsko, executive officer of the Minnesota Newspaper Guild, told the Star Tribune. The layoffs are estimated to have saved the company approximately $800,000 a year.

Several few weeks ago the Pioneer Press asked the union for $2 million in concessions, but later reconsidered that demand.

Layoffs at the Pioneer Press earlier this year claimed about a dozen staffers and saw the imposition of five unpaid furlough days for Newspaper Guild members.